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From: jr@bbncc5.UUCP (John Robinson)
Newsgroups: net.puzzle
Subject: Re: A Bicycle Puzzle
Message-ID: <2177@bbncc5.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 9-Mar-86 14:33:08 EST
Article-I.D.: bbncc5.2177
Posted: Sun Mar  9 14:33:08 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 12-Mar-86 03:31:34 EST
References: <97@tekchips.UUCP> <620@anasazi.UUCP> <937@felix.UUCP>
Reply-To: jr@bbncc5.UUCP (John Robinson)
Organization: Bolt Beranek and Newman, Cambridge, MA
Lines: 19
Summary: The wheel that turns goes farther.

In article <937@felix.UUCP> daver@felix.UUCP (Dave Richards) writes:
>How about riding the bicycle backwards?  The back becomes the front and
>vice-versa. (this takes a special hub or something, but I've seen people
>do it)

The wheel that steers will still turn more.  Thus the front wheel
still goes farther even if the bike moves backwards.  Again, think of
the degenerate case when the back wheel stays on one spot and the
front wheel turns backwards as the whole bike pivots.

A non-standard bike with a fixed front wheel and steerable back wheel
would have a back wheel that traveled farther ... if you could ride it
without tipping over.  If both wheels steered equally and
simultaneously, it seems they should turn as fast.

As another variant, a trick rider might well have a rear wheel that
covered more angular ground by performing a long enough wheelie.

/jr